The dark truth behind the Mets’ sunny victory over the Rockies on Sunday is this — even when they desperately need a win to end a losing streak and change the conversation about their listing playoff fortunes, it takes a remarkable sequence of events to get it done.

James Loney has to have a hard-nosed, 10-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning to help set up Neil Walker’s heroics and Walker has to hit just his fourth homer since June 1. Jeurys Familia has to sizzle in a redemption outing in his first appearance since blowing consecutive saves last week. Oh, and the Mets have to endure yet another injury, this time to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who has a strained knee tendon.

Not exactly a recipe for real, live postseason contention. That’s why a day that saw Walker exhorting the Citi Field crowd after the homer and the Met clubhouse celebrating with loud postgame music perhaps puts even more pressure on the front office ahead of Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

This Mets club, after all, sits just four games over .500 and played so poorly against Colorado while losing three of four in the series that it was hard to discern which team ought to hold playoff hopes. After another “eh” outing Sunday by Noah Syndergaard, it’s clear Thor is mortal after all.

Overall, it just feels like the Mets are missing something and maybe a deadline deal is the last chance for an infusion.

The Mets finally had a reason to smile on Sunday, but it still looked ugly.

(Kathy Willens/AP)

Maybe the players even feel it, too. Here’s what Walker said when asked about the looming trade deadline: “You try not to play GM. You try to let Sandy (Alderson), those guys, do that. But you never quite know what’s going to happen. I think we do believe in the group we have here and it’s probably difficult for him (Alderson) right now given the injury situation and who’s down for how long, who’s coming back, that kind of stuff.

“We as players have no control over that, so we do feel confident in our group, but at the same time, I’m sure he’s looking to see where he can help us out.”

The Mets Sunday remained in the mix for Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce, sources said, and had explored a host of other potential options, as well, including help for the back end of the bullpen. Will they need a stopgap shortstop? They might not know until Cabrera sees the doctor on Monday.

But Alderson and his lieutenants might have to get creative to find something that will work.

Jay Bruce is a possibility to help bolster the Mets' lineup.

(Aaron Doster/AP)

Bruce feels like he’d be just another addition to the Island of Misfit Toys that the Met outfield has morphed into — he’s a left-handed corner outfielder, just like Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson. The club’s only real center fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, needs to play left as he nurses a painful thigh injury. Bruce may not be the perfect answer, so he’s not worth parting with their best prospects to get. But maybe he can help if the price is right, if only to give the Mets some peace of mind and a replacement if Cespedes’ nagging injury turns worse.

The Mets really wanted Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy, but the Brewers first agreed to a deal with the Indians and then, after Lucroy used his no-trade clause to veto it, reportedly advanced on a swap that would send Lucroy to Texas. He would’ve been a nice Met fit.

Instead, Alderson and Co. will have to look elsewhere for help for an offense that is baseball’s worst with runners in scoring position — after going 3-for-7 in such situations Sunday, the Mets are hitting .206 with RISP — and 29th in runs, ahead of only the lowly Braves.